Expected September 15, 2026. Available for pre-order now!
Signed copies will be available after our author event with Ali on October 6th. Please let us know in the notes section at check out if you'd like to wait for a signed copy (and if you'd like it personalized), otherwise we'll send an unsigned copy when it's published.
From the humble beet to the botanical curiosity of the tomato, The Curious Lives of Vegetables reveals the important, unusual, and downright fascinating stories behind the plants that nourish us.
Food journalist and former Bon Appétit staff writer Ali Francis blends cultural history, science, and narrative storytelling to spotlight rare, heirloom, and overlooked vegetables as a way of telling bigger stories—about biodiversity, flavor, memory, and the invisible forces that determine what ends up on our plates. Each illuminating essay is paired with a sublime illustration, reminiscent of antique botanical art, by celebrated artist Adriana Picker.
More than a visual feast, this is an invitation to see carrots, onions, broccoli, and dozens of other plants with fresh wonder. Perfect for gardeners, plant lovers, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art and nature, this book unearths the hidden histories, surprising science, and cultural significance of vegetables we thought we knew.
